BREACHLICH CHURCHYARD a Survey of Its Memorials
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BREACHLICH CHURCHYARD A Survey of Its Memorials. NH 7961/5285 By Stuart Farrell B.A A.I.F.A F.S.A.Scot April 2003 Abstract This survey was conducted, further to the survey work carried out by the author in the Inverness area (Farrell 1997). This report gives details of inscriptions and an index of surnames. Acknowledgments I would like to thank the following people for their help during this survey: - Mr. J Hepburn-Wright, of Adrem Cartographic Services Ltd for the plan; - Mr. J Welsh, for help with the recording of the stones. This survey was conducted with the help of funding from the following: - The Marc Fitch Fund. Location Site location is circled. Cover : Churchyard facing West. Church History It is unknown by whom and when the church of Breachlich was founded though mentioned in 1281 and dedicated to St. Ewan. The parish of Bracholie united with the adjacent parish of Petty c1500. The church was in use till 1688 and the ruins of the church were still to be seen when the Rev William Smith wrote for the Old Statistical Account in 1792. Church Records Records of burials exist from the parish of Petty from 1800-1854 (see appendix 1). Ministers of the Church No former ministers of the parish are commemorated within the churchyard. Date and condition of Monuments The memorials in the churchyard date from the mid 18th century to the modern day. They are in a variety of styles including slabs, obelisks, pedestals, effigy slabs and headstones. The vast majority is in a fair condition, only a few being damaged or broken. Previous Work Though no survey has been undertaken of the inscriptions of the stones in the churchyard it has been noted that a number of stones are possibly cup-marked (Jolly, 1882). A total of six stones were recorded by W Jolly of which one is a well worn grave-slab with an armorial panel (see below top left). None of the stones have been noted by anyone else during visits to the site and it may be as suggested by Young (1901) that these are not cup-marked stones but the results of weathering on the natural sandstone. One of these stones was found as part of the current survey work (58 – that is depicted top left but was found without the armorial shield and lettering). Bibliography Farrell S. (1997) Inverness Graveyard Survey. Unpublished report held by Highland Council Archaeology Unit and National Monuments Record of Scotland. Highland Council Sites and Monuments Record entry NH75SE 7. Jolly, W. (1882) On cup marked stones in the neighbourhood of Inverness; with an appendix on cup-marked stones in the Western Isles. Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 1881-1882, 16, 369-372. Jones J. (1984) How to record Graveyards. Council for British Archaeology and RESCUE. London. National Monuments Record of Scotland CANMORE entry NH75SE 7. Scott H. (1915-1961) Fasti-Ecclesiae Scoticanae: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation. Vol. 6: Synods of Aberdeen and of Moray. Oliver & Boyd. Edinburgh. Sinclair J (1791-99) First Statistical Account of Scotland. Edinburgh. Volume 3, 21. Young H R. (1901) The Church of St. Ewan at Barevan, Nairnshire. The Reliquary & Illustrated Archaeologist 1901, New series volume 6, 47-52. Recording Form For the purposes of this survey a recording form was devised based on that recommended by the Council for British Archaeology (Jones 1984). This form being quite detailed (see over), and possibly difficult to use, a simplified form detailing the most important points of recording was drawn up. (See over) This was to include the following: 1. Full inscription, including all genealogical information. 2. Type and style of monument. 3. Orientation and size. 4. Material used. 5. Photograph : a colour print (4x5) for attachment to each recording form. Also any details of carvings or other comments could be recorded. Key to Recording Form 1st line - Date of Record - day upon record made; - Recorder - initials of person making record; - Memorial No. - number of stone relating to plan; 2nd line - Monument type - what kind of monument is it? Headstone/slab/etc; 3rd line - Material - What it is made of pink/yellow sandstone, granite, slate, etc; 4th line - Faces Inscribed (Compass Points) - What direction does the inscription face? 5th line - Condition of stone & inscription - overall is the stone and inscription together very good, good, very poor, or poor. Take into consideration the eligibility of the inscription and the stone itself; 6th line - Dimensions - use a hand-tape or extending ruler to measure size; 7th line - Remarks - describe anything of interest - carvings, condition in general. A sketch of any particular feature of the stone. 8th line - Inscription - record the complete inscription. Write each line as it is on the stone. Inscription Details The number relates to that of the plan. _ Notes space. ... Notes letters illegible. 1 – In memory of Cameron Family 1906 – 1934. 2 – In loving memory. 3 – In loving memory of my dear husband Alexander Findlay died at Balblair Nairn 11th Nov 1923, aged 72 years. Also our sons Robert (with effects of the war) died 28 Aug 1919, aged 29 years. Interred in Moffat Cemetery. William died at Milton, Gollanfield 29 Dec 1902, aged 23 years. And our daughter Maggie Anne, died 6 Nov 1895, aged 10 years. Also of Annie Fraser beloved wife of the above Alexander Findlay who died at Lower Balblair Nairn 18 Oct 1932, aged 80 years. Also their sons Alick, who died in Canada March 1952, aged 75 years. And John died in Nairn, 28 February 1958, aged 79 years. “Not lost but gone before”. 4 – In memory of Catherine Mackintosh who died 4th January 1950, beloved wife of James Fraser, who died 5th January 1966. 5 – In loving memory of Sarah Harper who died at Wester Lochend 7th April 1902 the beloved wife of Donald McLennan who died 26th Nov 1914. Also Mary Harper wife of John Bremner who died 29th April 1912. Also James who died at Milton of Connage 29th April 1921, aged 37 years eldest son of Thomas McLennan. Also Bella Maculloch beloved wife of the said Thomas MacLennan who died at Nairn on the 29th August 1932, aged 75 years. And the said Thomas MacLennan, who also dies there on 10th April 1944, aged 85 years. 6 – In loving memory of John Campbell died at Clepenton, 10 April 1892 aged 60. 7 – Erected by Donald Shaw, in memory of his children died at Blairnfade 1889. The said Donald Shaw, who died 18 March 1906, aged 43 years. Deeply regretted. And of his daughter Christina who died 26 June 1916 aged 22 years. 8 – In loving memory of my husband and sons John Mackintosh died 1st August 1917. John died in India, 5th July 1943. Donald, killed in action at El-Alamein, 2nd Nov 1942. Martha Shaw wife of John Mackintosh died 10th August 1947 aged 50 years. 9 – Erected by John Ross general merchant Campellton in memory of his beloved wife Elizabeth Smith who died 19th April 1872 aged 64 years. 10 – Erected by Alexr McIntosh Campelton in memory of his daughter Margt who died 18th May 1865 aged 13 years. 11 – Erected to the memory of Margaret Morrison, beloved wife of Thomas Young, who died 19th Septr 1890, aged 85 years. Also of the said Thomas Young who died 6th August 1895 aged 80 y. 12 – Sacred to the memory of Maria Presland born May 4th 1804, fell asleep Feb 23rd 1869, the faithful servant and friend of M Genl & Mrs Gardner. 13 – Sacred to the memory of Mary the beloved daughter of M Genl & Mrs Gardiner born June 3rd 1852 fell asleep December 27th 1871. And of Bertha their dearly beloved daughter born 28th July 1859 fell asleep 7th June 1889. Also their beloved daughter Susan Gorgiana Gardner born 13 Octr 1850 died 9 Octr 1924. 14 – Top panel – Sacred to the memory of Eliza Augusta beloved wife of Major General W B Gardner, born 22nd January 1820, fell asleep 19th September 1878. “At evening the .. shall be light”. Lower panel – And of William Bethell Gardner, Major General R.A born August 19th 1815, fell asleep June 15th 1880. “For he giveth his beloved sleep”. Stone – Also of Eliz Augusta, their beloved daughter born April 21 1845, fell asleep Jany 25 1921. 15 – Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth, widow of Col Sir Alexr Anderson G.B K.T.S born Octr 28th 1792 fell asleep March 18th 1869. “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory”. Col:III:4. 16 – Sacred to the memory of Augusta the beloved daughter of M Genl & Mrs Gardner born February 11th 1857 fell asleep March 23rd 1873. Also of their beloved daughter Agnes, born June 10th 1849, fell asleep May 31st 1910. 17 – Sacred to the memory of Edith Elizabeth who died 3rd March 1872 aged 4 days the infant daughter of James Gillies Serj Major 91st Highlanders. 18 – In affectionate remembrance of my father Duncan McTavish died 1st March 1870. Also his wife Ann McLean died 16th May 1902. And their son William Aeneas who died in Malta 12th Oct 1892. And their daughter Annabella died 6th August 1935. 19 – Erected by Alexr Mackenzie I.C.P in memory of his son Donald who died at Ardersier the 24th August 1872 aged 12 years. Also in memory of the aforesaid Alexander Mackenzie who died at Kingussie on the 4th of May 1891 aged 62 years. And of his son Robert who died at Aberdeen on the 26th June 1891 aged 20 years and 3 months.